During much of the year, Texas Mountain Laurel,
Sophora secundaflora, is easily overlooked. But in March, this small accent tree is a show stopper. That's when you will find them covered with huge clusters of purple flowers.
Native to Central Texas, this member of the Pea family tends to be a multi trunked, somewhat slow growing plant. Although I've seen some larger, most Texas Mountain Laurels will grow to about 12 -15 feet. It has dark green, glossy leaves.
Native to the alkaline hills of Central Texas, this is a drought tolerant plant. It will tolerate the heavy clays of the lower Rio Grande Valley but make sure that you plant it in an area that drains well. It doesn't like wet feet. It's root structure is very sparce - with very few fibrous roots. (guess that's why it grows well in the Hill Country) This makes transplanting a little bit difficult. If you break the root ball while planting, you may lose your tree.
Oh, but what a reward this tree gives in March! The wisteria-like blooms smell like grape soda and attract bees and butterflies alike!
But beware. Most parts of this plant are poisonous - especially the claret red seeds in the seed pods. Another common name for Sophora secundaflora is Mescal Bean. Indians used the seeds as hallucinogenics - and I have read of deaths from this practice.
You can see why this tree is often overlooked when not in bloom. This one looks a little starved for nitrogen - the leaves tend to be much darker green.
Mountain Laurel is deer resistant - but the webworms love the one in my yard. My hubbie is pretty good about checking it a few times a week and squishing all the little worms that are munching on it. We have never needed to apply any chemical, but if squishing the worms is not your cup of tea, a BT product to take care of the worms.
This tree is just beginning to bloom. Mountain Laurel will produce its bloom stem many months before it's time to bloom. Some people mistakenly think they are from last years blossoms and remove them - then they wonder why their tree didn't flower!
It's a bit narrow - only wide enough for one person at a time - but when the trees are trimmed up, it's a smooth path for the wheelbarrow and me.
Although the planting beds on both sides still need TONS of work, this is definitely my favorite garden path. Maybe because it's the only one at my home that was professionally laid? Carrying the stone didn't suck the moisture from my hands or throw my back out of wack - so what's not to love! This is where you'll find me sipping my morning cup of tea - or strolling in the moonlight to see if the night-blooming Angel's Trumpet has blossoms.
. . . the bed dividers in our vegetable garden also serve as sidewalks. We placed two 2 x 12s side by side for enough width to walk comfortably.
Glancing down the resaca yesterday, it was hard to miss these Roseate Spoonbills, Ajaia ajaja. These mature adults are in breeding plumage. According to John Tveten in The Birds of Texas, many of these birds were slaughtered in the late 19th century for their feathers, which were sought after for ladies hats.
Is this fluffed up bird doing some sort of mating dance? Or maybe s/he's just trying to keep warm! They seem happy to hang out with the hundreds of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks that have taken up residence on this resaca. 
During much of the year, Texas Mountain Laurel, Sophora secundaflora, is easily overlooked. But in March, this small accent tree is a show stopper. That's when you will find them covered with huge clusters of purple flowers. 
Mountain Laurel is deer resistant - but the webworms love the one in my yard. My hubbie is pretty good about checking it a few times a week and squishing all the little worms that are munching on it. We have never needed to apply any chemical, but if squishing the worms is not your cup of tea, a BT product to take care of the worms.
Bamboo Reeds, 2008
Many of the cacti and succulents are full of buds. I can only imagine how gloriously colorful this garden will be in a couple of weeks.
This piece is entitled Float Boat. . . . and I think it would look mah-va-lous in my shade garden . . . .
Blue Reeds, Marlins, and Floats, 2008.
In the center, spot the Marlin. Isn't that amazing?
In keeping with the blue theme, the Texas Mountain Laurel were in full bloom - and smelling heavenly (well, heavenly if you are a lover of Grape Pop). Bees and butterflies enjoyed these flowers as much as us mammalian garden visitors.
Chihuly also installed a few pieces in this pond. It's entitled Blue Polyvitro Crystals. They aren't make out of glass, but a plastic material that Dale calls "polyvitro".
Tucked into the shade garden was this water feature. The water dripping from the tank to the pond made a melodious sound. It also attracted doves and quail. We took a long respit on the bench here while waiting for the sun to set and the glass displays to be lit.
If you were to arrive at the garden after dark, you would be greeted by these Desert Wildflower Towers. They were attractive in the sunlight and breathtaking after dark.
The large orb among these Ferns is The Sun. 
I thought that Saffron Tower was the highlight of the nighttime display. You could see it from almost anywhere in the garden - and the roads surrounding the Desert Botanical Garden.
This is only a taste of Chihuly's display - His chandeliers are incredible (but my photos of them were not) 
